About us

Beautiful cards, Australian art and things worth writing about

Paper Parrot is an online home and more recently a physical shop, for beautiful art cards, stationery, calendars, books and gifts from Australia and around the world.

I love things that are beautifully made, a bit different and a pleasure to give, receive or keep. It is important to me to support Australian artists and designers, and seek out products that are unique, sustainable and made with quality in mind.

Meet the person behind Paper Parrot

I'm the person behind Paper Parrot, and I've always had a bit of a thing for paper.

Over the years I've worked as a law librarian, bookseller, website content designer and had many other jobs along the way. I've always loved books, reading, art and beautiful stationery—especially the kind that makes you want to sit down and write.

As a child I wrote letters to my grandparents and penpals and wrote home when I travelled the world in my twenties. I still write letters to penpals, friends and family. There's something special about a handwritten letter or card that a quick message on a screen can't replace. You get to choose the card, the stamp, find a good pen, think about what you want to say and put something of yourself in the post.

That feeling is at the heart of Paper Parrot.

The Paper Parrot story

Paper Parrot was started by Anne Hutton in 2015, after the iconic Electric Shadows cinema and bookshop in Canberra closed.

Electric Shadows had its own community of people who loved books, film, art and unique cards, and Anne carried that spirit into Paper Parrot.

In 2024, I had the very good fortune to take over the business. Both Anne and I lived in Yass NSW, so it was meant to be!

Since then, I have moved to the NSW South Coast and opened a Paper Parrot shop in beautiful Bodalla, to compliment the online store. I've been continuing what Paper Parrot does best while putting my own stamp on the collection—looking for new artists, designers and products to add to the mix.

Supporting Australian artists

Australian art and design have always been an important part of Paper Parrot.

We're proud to support Australian artists, designers and independent businesses, and we're particularly pleased to share the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Where products are licensed, royalties return to the artists and their communities. We believe artists should be recognised and rewarded for their work, and we love being able to introduce their art to people through something as simple and as a card, calendar or gift.

Most of the businesses we buy from are Australian, employing locals and designing and printing themselves. They use quality, sustainable paper and packaging and value the artists they represent. 

  • Blue Island Press
  • Pip and Pod - artist run
  • Affirmation Publishing
  • Better Worlds Arts
  • Alperstein Designs
  • Earth Greetings - artist run
  • Songbird - artist run
  • Nuovo Group
  • Aero Images
  • Braw Paper Co - artist run
  • Steven Nowakowski Panoscapes - artist run

Scarpa, Vevoke and Peribo are the Australian owned brands who provide us with our gorgeous European and American art collections.

More than 10 years of Paper Parrot

One of the things I'm proudest of is that Paper Parrot has customers who have been with us since the Electric Shadows days, that's over 10 years! They keep coming back, tell their friends about us and continue to trust Paper Parrot to find something special.

For a small business, that's pretty wonderful.

It reminds me that Paper Parrot isn't just about selling cards and gifts. It's about the relationships that grow around them—the people sending birthday wishes, saying thank you, keeping in touch, celebrating milestones and remembering someone just because they can.

Why "Paper Parrot"?

The parrot is the quintessential Australian bird, yet it is found elsewhere in the world. This expresses Paper Parrot's selection philosophy - to showcase Australian artists and design talent but not exclusively. 

The parrot family encompasses a range of beautiful and unusual birds and it has given us the key to express our product selection - 

      • King Parrots are big, bold and beautiful
      • Elegant Parrots are just as their name suggests
      • Eclectus Parrots are the most diversely plumed
      • Pygmy Parrots are very rarely seen

One of my small pleasures is spotting at least one kookaburra sitting on the power lines on my drive to work. 

So I will continue to keep an eye out for beautiful things, find the good stuff and share it with people who love paper, art, books and unique gifts as much as I do.

Thanks for visiting.

Jo
Head Parrot

Your feedback is welcome - it helps me improve the website and our service. You can contact me at - jo@paperparrot.com.au

 

Buying from Paper Parrot

We source our products from different suppliers and cannot offer wholesale terms.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledges the people of the Yuin Nation who are the traditional custodians of the land where we live and work. We pay respect to Elders, past, present and emerging and celebrate the deep connection the First Australians have to the beautiful place we call home.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.